Chester Christmas Cracker with 60163 - 25/11/17

Blimey, the timings are out early, aren't they? Looked on RTT assuming they wouldn't be and bingo.

Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54192/2017/11/25/advanced
Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54198/2017/11/25/advanced

I can see a path for a box back to Wembley too. Good stuff.

 

Really demanding 'timed for 60 mph max' scheduling.

 

This one does seem to prioritise the destination over the journey: nearly five hours in Chester and the whole journey back in darkness.

 

Having booked on it, I'm in agreement - wouldn't mind a couple hours less in Chester so some of the trip back is in daylight.

 

Darkness is a problem at this time of year. I very rarely go on trips between November and March unless the itinerary or motive power is something really quite unusual, as it's just not worth it with the whole of the return journey in darkness. The Pannier Rambler next Saturday will be my last trip this year.

 

Visit enough pubs in those five hours and you'll no longer care about the darkness.

 

Woooooo ! Who's afraid of the dark then ? I find there's more atmosphere at night standing by a door with the window down (but keep head inside !) as sound resonance is so much different from daylight sound resonance. Used to love sampling this experience on the Waverley Route during the 1950s with A1/a3 at head of the Waverley sleepers.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens to Northern Belle now WCR has taken over (re Tornado pulling the trains for UK)

 

WCR have not “taken over” Northern Belle.

Belmond have sold the Northern Belle to a new company part owned by David Smith, who is indeed the majority shareholder in WCR.

There will no doubt be an operational agreement/ contract between Northern Belle (Belmond) and DRS that may or may not be affected by the sale.

 

Or stay in one Spoons and sample all the beers

 

@gwr4090
Hi David, is this a sleeper service?
Also, you’ve got the date wrong.
Oops.

 

Mods, can we merge these threads please? https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/chester-christmas-cracker-with-60163-25-11-17.1034365/

Ta very much.

 

Erm, someone moved this post and the one above to the wrong thread...

 

Times below for Tornado and stock movement from Didcot to Euston. I'm trying to work out if there is a reverse anywhere as I can't imagine her running tender first all the way from Didcot to Euston - but that's the way it looks to me from the below!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54191/2017/11/25/advanced

 

It's looking like 60163 and stock will be dragged diesel-hauled all the way from Didcot to Euston; this path also appears http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54193/2017/11/25/advanced , presumably the diesel heading LE to Wembley.

 

Looks like Chester is the place to be on Saturday with Tornado and Ollie due within half an hour.

 

Can you get on Chester Station without a travel ticket, most stations are going "closed" again? Does the old platform ticket still exist?

 

Platform tickets are sold for 10p.

 

Thanks Daniel, nice to know something is still available and so inexpensive, most things cost at least a quid these days!